Copy DVD to blank DVD

Well I have never used the media portion of Vista before now. I tried to copy/burn a DVD from a helicopter tour to a blank DVD+R. The only things I got were one folder under another with 8 files. Some were .BUP and .IFO files. Never did get it to play. How do you make a copy so it will play ? There's always one of us around. :-(

Re: Copy DVD to blank DVD

Well thanks to both of you for answering. I'm not that up for downloading more programs when I think the ones I have should work. I thought that I was burning a DVD but don't know what I did wrong. It seems to want to burn the video back onto itself even with a blank DVD disc in the other drive. Maybe that is why I ended up coping the files but still don't know why or how to get it burn it to a blank DVD disc. It doesn't give any help/advice screens. Don't want to ruin the one copy I have. If either of you know where I can get help for my existing programs that would be great. I haven't found any online yet. Thanks.

Re: Copy DVD to blank DVD

The problem with WMP is that it only creates data discs. You made a copy of the disc but most standalone DVD players won't play a data disc.

You should have Windows Movie Maker in Start\Programs. I'm getting a crash course right now on how to use it because I usually use Nero for these kinds of things. I don't have time to look up all the details on using WMM so this is quick and dirty.

Open it and select video.
Open Window Explorer and browse to the drive the original disc is in. Open the Video_TS folder. Drag and drop all the VTS.....Vob files into WMM and add all the files to the storyboard in the correct order. Make any edits using what's available under Edit. Then, under Publish to, select DVD. It will send you to Windows DVD Maker

In DVD Maker, just click on next and, then burn.

I couldn't find a way to to import the entire contents of the disc into WMM so I guess you'll have to use the default menu, if you want one.

Re: Copy DVD to blank DVD

Thanks for the info. I tried the movie maker but all it would do is bring over the video but no audio. I created a project that saved everthing in movie maker which is where I did not hear the audio. I did the drag and drop which only allowed the VOB files for that function and the add videos in the task bar which also just brought over the VOB files. Did not see anything that would bring everything over. Maybe you just can't do this with this program. Kind of misleading though.

Re: Copy DVD to blank DVD

Since WMM can't import a disc, there's no reason to worry about the .ifo and .bup files. New ones will be created during encoding and burning to disc. In addition, there's no need for the Audio_TS folder. Just follow the instructions I provided.

Note that WMP 11 and, I assume WMM, is not compatible with mpeg-4 with AC3 audio. That may be what's on the disc. Does the disc play in WMP 11? You would need a program like Nero Recode to recode the files to change the audio format to one compatible with WMM.

Also note that if the disc you're trying to copy is copyright protected, you probably won't be able to burn it.